27 Jul 2025

Athletics stars push through pain barrier to finish Games on a high

BOCHUM – Competitors overcame illness, injury and personal grief to put in some of the most eye-catching performances on the final day of athletics at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games on Sunday.

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“I’ve been through a lot to get here so I’m so happy,” Elizabeth McMillen (AUS) said after taking gold in the women’s 20km race walk.

“I’ve had a bit of a rough two years of training. I’ve got endometriosis (a condition causing pelvic pain) which is incredibly difficult. I wake up some days not being able to sit up, and I go to training. I’ve worked my butt off to get where I am today, it’s finally coming together.”

Ilona Lotta Maaria Mononen (FIN) also topped the podium despite coming off the track after the women’s 3000m steeplechase with the back of her legs bleeding.

“I have a few scars from each of my steeple races,” the 21-year-old shrugged. “I think it’s someone else’s spikes scratching on my calves. It just has to be cleaned up and then I will be good to go.”

South Africa’s sprinters seal bittersweet silver

One of the stars of the Games, Bayanda Joy Walaza (RSA) fell short of a third gold medal as South Africa claimed silver in the men’s 4x100m relay. But the 100m and 200m champion, who also took relay silver at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, quickly put any disappointment behind him.

“Surely, this is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life,” the 19-year-old said. “It takes guts to be here. It takes a lot to be here. You have to sacrifice most of the things.

“Being here and competing with my brothers means a lot. From all the races that I’ve run, this was the race I’m truly proud of and the race I will cherish forever.”

The medal was particularly bittersweet for Walaza’s teammate Retshidisitswe Mlenga (RSA), who raced with his uncle’s name taped to his forearm.

“He passed on today,” Mlenga explained. “It’s just for him. I won’t be able to attend the funeral as I’ll be in Europe. It’s just one of these tough days. This race has been one of the toughest races I did. I never experienced something like this.

“When you’re away from family and have lost a loved one, it’s very challenging. I’m happy we got the medal here.”

FGNS lm/kc/mb